Planning board conditionally approves 803 Country Way multifamily project, continues hearings on adjacent parcels

The Scituate Central Planning Board on Sept. 25 adopted a lengthy, condition‑laden approval for a five‑unit multifamily building proposed at 803 Country Way, while asking the applicant to return with final drainage and construction details and continuing related applications for 799 and 801 Country Way to Oct. 23, 2025.

Town planning staff read a set of findings and more than 90 conditions into the record before the board voted. The decision described the project as a single multifamily building with five residential units (10 bedrooms), 10 exterior parking spaces, and a subsurface stormwater detention and infiltration system. The decision requires final drainage calculations, as‑built inspections, recording of easements, and other construction‑phase controls before final sign‑off.

Kevin Brady, the board's consulting engineer, explained a key design change to the board: the stormwater discharge was reconfigured to tie into a deeper catch basin across the street so runoff passes through a single, cleaner connection rather than multiple upstream basins. "John thought it was cleaner to go to the last one rather than the first link system," Brady said, adding that the deeper connection "gives some more flexibility to the depth of things" for the subsurface chambers. The board's approval is conditional on the drainage adjustments and peer‑review comments being addressed and confirmed prior to the next meeting.

Board members discussed construction phasing and the risk that later phases (properties 799 and 801) might not be built; the board included conditions to require the applicant to return for plan modifications or additional approvals if subsequent phases are not completed as represented. The decision also includes standard construction controls: erosion‑control phasing, weekly inspections by a town‑authorized engineer, limits on construction hours, traffic/parking rules during construction, and requirements for a pre‑construction conference.

The applicant requested a continuance for the separate but related 799 and 801 Country Way applications; the board granted that continuance to Oct. 23, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. The decision reads that 803’s final plan approval and any building permits will depend on satisfying the listed stormwater and recording requirements.

Planning staff said they would use existing dedicated funds to complete required surveys and sidewalk design work so the sidewalk along Country Way can be recorded as part of the approvals. The board also noted waivers requested for certain frontage and façade requirements; the decision records those waivers and ties final approvals to compliance with design‑review committee material determinations prior to issuance of building permits.

The board closed debate by instructing staff and the applicant to submit revised drainage calculations and supporting documents in advance of the continued hearing. The continuation and the conditional approval mean construction cannot proceed to permit issuance until the listed drainage and recording conditions are satisfied.